TREATMENT OF WHITE COLLAR CRIME VERSUS TREATMENT OF BLUE COLLAR CRIME IN ENGLAND

This research examines differences in the treatment of blue collar and white collar criminals by the legal system in England. An attempt is made to answer questions of both how and why with respect to such differences.

Defining White Collar and Blue Collar Crime

Before attempting to assess the differences in the ways in which white collar and blue collar criminals are treated by the English justice system, it is necessary to define the two classes of crime. In 1961, E. H. Sutherland said that white collar crime was that committed by persons of ôhigh social status and respectability in the course of à occupation.ö In the late-1980s, white collar crime began to be characterized as the ôcrimes of the powerfulö in society. While neither of these characterizations actually define a white collar crime, they do contribute to the creation of a stereotype of the white collar criminal as an individual of high-status, respectability, whose crimes are underreported and rarely prosecuted. Many white collar crimes, however, are committed by individuals who possess neither high-status nor social respectability. It is a definite mistake to assume that white collar crime or white collar criminals are unitary in character. Both come in many forms. White collar crime varies from odometer tampering on used automobiles to political corruption to fiduciary fraud to tax evasion to false advertising and

. . .
term has even worked its way into popular fiction. English police, however, have no legal authority to hold an individual in a prolonged, ambiguous status. White collar suspects, who are likely to be better educated, have greater access to legal counsel, and to be more aware of their legal rights than blue collar suspects are less likely to be 'helping the police with their inquiries,' because they know that the police lack the legal authority for such detention, and, in most instances, refuse to accept such treatment. Blue collar suspects, by contrast, because they seldom are fully aware of either their rights or of the legal authority of the police, will usually consent to such detention short of arrest. Bail Financial surety as a form of bail was largely eliminated in England in 1976. In place of financial surety, England ôabandoned the use of the accused recognizance and substituted a system of criminal punishments for absconding.ö Financial surety may still be required if the court considers flight on the part of an accused. In decisions related to the requirement of financial surety for bail, the courts consider the financial resources of the accused, the character of the accused (including previous convictions), an
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Bail Financial, Collar Crime, Home Office, Arrest Detention, England White, Collar Offenders, white collar, Criminal Justice, blue collar, collar crime, collar crimes, CRIME ENGLAND, white collar crime, Journal Criminology, Fine Defaulters, blue collar crimes, white collar crimes, collar blue collar, collar blue, collar offenders, white collar blue, criminal justice, collar criminals, short arrest, international journal,
Approximate Word count = 2173
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)